Saturday, March 28, 2015

Question: Does the HPC care what color I paint my house? And if I want to paint
in historically accurate colors, where can I find out what those colors
might be?Answer by Lisa Mroszczk Murphy, AICP, Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Frederick. The
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) does not review paint color and maintaining painted surfaces is
encouraged. The HPC only reviews painting when it involves
painting currently unpainted masonry or the removal of paint from
masonry using chemical strippers, abrasive cleaning methods,
power/pressure washing since historic materials can be damaged in either
case. The HPC does review the color of pre-finished products
and materials, like a light fixture for example, and on signage. The
only way to really know what paint colors were used historically on a
building would be to conduct a paint analysis. And since we don’t
review paint color we’ve never gathered any data
on this. I did a quick search online and there are some good general
recommendations here:
http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/28-painting-interiors.htm and
http://lenfant.org/print/LEnfantPaintGuidlines.pdf

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

For all you Jazz lovers in Frederick and the surrounding areas, know
that local resident Tony Constable sends out regular email outlining the
jazz events in Frederick County. Here is a sample of Tony's email.
Please contact him directly if you would like to be included in his
email list. tconstable@caisisco.com Darcy
.............................................................................................................................Dear Jazz Enthusiast:Here
are this week's (and beyond) local Jazz Happenings that I know about,
or that you have made me aware of. As always events are presented in
chronological order. Make sure you really look at the additional items
at the end of the "Happenings" sections. ~ TonyJazz HappeningsEarly this summer, Le Parc restaurant hopes to have permits in hand to host live music and is expecting expected to feature jazz. Look for more updates later. The
greatest jazz musicians learned their craft on the bandstand. The goal
of the jam is to provide a venue for tomorrow’s players to hone their
chops. The jam is open to players at all levels who want to work on
their chops. Drums, mic, amplification, and real books in concert,
bass, Bb, and Eb are provided. They always try to have full time
professionals in the house band to support you. This time the house
band will consist of: Howard Burns (reeds); Don Resnik on the new baby
grand's keys; and Ted Jenkins on bass. Anita Thomas will be back soon
and Dr. Mark Cook will be sitting in on keys once in a while.……………………………………………………………………………………Ali
Afrookteh's Monocacy Jazz Quartet (MJQ) will be at the Ayse Meze
restaurant on East Street (near East Patrick) on Thursday, March 26th
from 5:30PM until 8:30PM.……………………………………………………………………………………The next Jazz Night at Cafe Nola
featuring the Bruce Fransen Quartet will be on Wednesday, April 1st (no
joke!). The music starts at 7:30 PM and goes on until 10:30. The Bruce
Fransen Quartet features Pete Chauvette on vibes, Lou Hinds on bass,
Paul Wilson on drums, and Bruce Fransen on saxophones and flute. This
monthly event has a large and loyal following - be there early to get a
good seat!……………………………………………………………………………………"Junk
Jazz" plays the first Sunday of EVERY month at Firestone's on Market
Street from Noon - 3pm - Sunday April 5 is the next time. Junk's 6 piece
ensemble includes: Eric Plum on trombone, Steve Churchill on sax and
flute, Ryan Benton on piano, Jim Goodwin on guitar, Chris Marsh on bass,
and Travis Driver on drums. If you want a table be sure to make a
reservation, this group has been playing at Firestone's for many years
now and has a loyal following.……………………………………………………………………………………Ali
Afrookteh's Monocacy Jazz Quartet (MJQ) will be at the Ayse Meze
restaurant on East Street (near East Patrick) on Thursday, April 9th
from 5:30PM until 8:30PM.……………………………………………………………………………………Ali
Afrookteh's Monocacy Jazz Quartet (MJQ) will be at the Ayse Meze
restaurant on East Street (near East Patrick) on Thursday, April 23rd
from 5:30PM until 8:30PM.……………………………………………………………………………………Ali Afrookteh's Monocacy Jazz Quartet (MJQ) will be at the Catoctin Breeze Winery on Saturday, May 9th from 1PM until 4PM. For more information contact Tony Constable at tconstable@caisisco.com.
……………………………………………………………………………………

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Question: Can I put storm windows on the street-facing side of my
home in the historic district?

Answer by Christina Martinkosky, Historic Preservation Planner in the City of Frederick.
Yes, property owners in the Historic District can install storm windows
on any side of their building, including street-facing elevations. HPC
approval is needed before starting work, however requests are generally
reviewed by Staff within 2-3 days of submitting a complete application.

Storm windows must incorporate dimensions that correspond with the
window to be covered. Storm windows can be metal or wood and they must
be painted or have a factory-applied finish to match the underlying
window or the window trim. HPC guidelines for storm windows and all
exterior modifications can be found at https://www.cityoffrederick.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/497 or you can call the Planning Department with specific questions.

Please remember that many rehabilitation projects, including the
installation of storm windows, are eligible for the City's Historic
Preservation Tax Credit Program. Tax paying property owners in the
historic district may apply for a property tax credit equal to 25% of
expenditures incurred for exterior work. Please check the City's website
or contact Staff for more information. Residents with questions can call the Planning Department at 301-600-1499. Ask to speak to a Historic Preservation Planner.

-----------------------------------------
Downtown FAQ is a new item in the TalkAboutFrederick.com blog. Feel
free to submit questions and I will find the official answers. ~ Darcy

Friday, March 6, 2015

Question: If a resident wants to put a bump-out on the back of their downtown Frederick home, and at least one neighbor objects, does
that stop the project?

Answer by Christina Martinkosky, Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Frederick.
A property owner in the Historic District that is interested in
constructing an addition must receive HPC approval and appropriate
building and zoning permits before starting work. The first step in the
process is submitting a complete "Rehabilitation and Additions
Application" to the Planning Department. However, many applicants find
that it is helpful to meet with Staff to review their ideas before
submitting any documentation. Staff is available to meet with property
owners and perform site visits.

Once an application is submitted, most proposals for additions are
discussed at workshop with the Commission before being reviewed at a
hearing. The public has an opportunity to provide comments to
communicate their support or concerns for the proposal. The Commission
does consider public input, however the Commission is charged with
making decisions based on the Frederick Town Historic District Design
Guidelines.

Residents with questions can call the Planning Department at 301-600-1499. Ask to speak to a Historic Preservation Planner.

-----------------------------------------
Downtown FAQ is a new item in the TalkAboutFrederick.com blog. Feel
free to submit questions and I will find the official answers. ~ Darcy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Frederick City and Frederick County have specific guidelines about
snow removal policies and moving your car from Snow Emergency Routes. See the note below about when the public garages are open for free overnight parking in the event of a snowstorm.

Frederick City
Snow removal policies for the city can be found at: Snow Removal. Snow removal takes place by region in the city, so if you don't know which region you live in consult the Snow Removal Region Map. Snow Emergency Routes are defined on this page: Snow Emergency Routes. The city really needs one page titled "Everything You Need to Know about Snow." But they do have a Tips About Snow document
in pdf format that you can download and this really is worth reading if
you live downtown because you can get a Notice of Violation for not
shoveling your snow within the specified time frame and to the specified
width.

As a downtown resident, I get
this question a lot. Recently, Nikki Bamonti, from the Mayor's office
answered the question as follows:

"Only in the most extenuating circumstances are the City parking
garages open for “free parking” in a snow event. The Mayor makes that
decision on a case-by-case basis. In 2009, the City had an unusually
high volume of snow and alternative parking had to
be implemented. Hundreds of residents, businesses and downtown employees exercise the
option to rent parking spaces in the City garages on a long-term basis
so they are guaranteed a place to park. When opening the deck to “free
parking” during a snow event, that allows
anyone to occupy 1, 2 or even up to 4 spaces in the City garages. This
has the potential to put those who rent spaces on a permanent basis
without a place to park, even though they have paid a premium to secure
parking.
The Mayor recognizes that parking downtown is limited and makes the decision to open the garages after considering many factors.
When the Mayor institutes free parking in City garages in the future, we will make sure it is well publicized.
Sign up for Alert Frederick County to be notified. You can sign up here:
https://ww2.everbridge.net/citizen/EverbridgeGateway.action?body=home&gis_alias_id=1080761 For any questions about snow and snow removal, contactthe 24-hour switchboard: 301-600-1440."

"Depending
on the weather updates throughout the day, we will likely be putting
out a press release later today advising residents
to “be aware of and obey the Restricted Parking designations."
The restricted parking areas assure citizens and the DPW Snow
Plow Teams that the designated areas will be open and available for use
to push and/or haul snow from streets if the need arises. As a
reminder, parking in a Restricted Parking area at any
time, will result in a fine.

Residents
are also reminded to move vehicles off of City streets if other parking is available.
A street cleared of parked vehicles allows the DPW Snow Team to plow quickly and as efficiently as possible.During any accumulating snow event, citizens are asked to stay home and off the roads if possible so as not to put themselves
or others at risk.”

Tricks for Keeping Your Driveway Clear of Plowed Snow

I
saw this YouTube video the other day on how to keep the snow plow from
plowing in your driveway once you've cleared it. It's worth watching if you
have a driveway in the suburbs or the country but won't help downtown residents. Snow Shoveling Secrets.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Welcome to the City of Frederick's March 2015 e-Newsletter is re-posted here. If you have any questions or suggestions direct them to
Susan Harding, the Public Information Coordinator, and author of the
newsletter: susan@cityoffrederick.com. The topics for this month's
newsletter are shown below and the articles follow. See the archives for
other issues. ~ Darcy Richards.

Contents:

Talk to the Mayor Tuesdays

Freecycle Roundup Day - April 11th - Walnut Ridge Park

Celebrate Earth Hour 2015 Star Party in Baker Park

Frederick Community Action Agency Five Programs That Offer Assistance!

Parks & Recreation Center - Does it Get Any Better Than This?

Weinberg Center for the Arts Upcoming Events March Highlights

Illuminating Frederick 1865 - From Celebration to Grief Activities Planned for April 9th and 10th

Mayor McClement has set aside the 4th Tuesday of each month from 2-6 p.m. to meet informally with citizens to discuss topics or issues of their choice.

The next Talk with the Mayor Tuesday will be March 24th.

The Mayor's office is located in City Hall at 101 North Court St.
No appointment is necessary and citizens meet with the Mayor on a first
come; first serve basis. For more information, contact Nikki Bamonti at 301-600-3835 or nbamonti@cityoffrederick.com

Freecycle Roundup Day

April 11th - Walnut Ridge Park

The City of Frederick's Annual Freecycle Roundup will be held on Saturday, April 11th, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Walnut Ridge Park,1151 Rocky Springs Road.

View Freecycle Roundup for more information.
Limited pickups will be available through the Frederick Community Action Agency's Green Jobs Program.
To schedule a free pickup, City residents should contact Ben at 301-600-2039 by Friday, March 20th.
Questions? Call the Department of Public Works at 301-600-1440.

Celebrate Earth Hour 2015

Star Party in Baker Park

Join The City of Frederick and celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28th from 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM.

The City of Frederick will join 7000+ participating cities around
the globe and turn off non-essential lights around City Hall in
observance of Earth Hour.
Join in -Turn off your non-essential lights for one hour.

Earth Hour Star Party in Baker Park from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Learn
about the wonders of the night sky. The City is partnering with
TriState Astronomers to bring amateur astronomers and their telescopes
to Baker Park. Bring your chairs and blankets and be part of our party!
Interested star gazers should meet in front of City Hall at 7:15 PM to walk to the designated area in Baker Park.

Frederick Community Action AgencyFive Programs That Offer Assistance!

The following videos, produced by The City of Frederick Audio Visual Department, explain several ways the Frederick Community Action Agency (FCAA) can offer assistance to citizens in the community. Click on the videos below for more information.

Congratulations! The City of Frederick Parks & Recreation Department claimed four #1's in the recent "2015 Best of Frederick" sponsored by Frederick Magazine.

Best Park - Baker Park

Best Pool - William R. Diggs Memorial Swimming Pool

Pet Friendly Venue - Baker Park

Best Golf Course - Clustered Spires Golf Course.

The 2015 Spring/Summer Recreation Brochure will be available on-line atwww.cityoffrederick.com and at the Recreation Center located at 101 North Bentz Street, on Monday, March 9th.

The Parks & Recreation Department has opened a new Program
Registration and Facility Recreation Desk. The desk will be open Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
and is located on the east end of the Talley Recreation Center's large
entry doors facing Bentz Street. For more information call
301-600-1492/1493.

Thursday, April 9th at 3:15 PM - Bells Across the Land: "A Nation Remembers Appomattox" City Hall bells will toll for 4 minutes - symbolic of the 4-years of the Civil War.

Friday - April 10th, 7:00 - 9:30 PM All activities are open to the public and free of charge.7:00 PM - Lecture by Best Selling Author James Swanson, Author of The Manhunt- the 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer - City Hall Boardroom 8:30 PM - Following the lecture, a Grand Illumination Ceremony will be held in front of City Hall9:30 PM - Walking Tour leaves from City Hall
For more information, visit Illuminating Frederick 1865.

Carroll Creek Park Update

East of East Street

Brick pavers for the Galleria walkways and stone work on the creek
walls continues near the Delaplaine Center and the "Galleria" Fountain.
Where stone work is taking place, water levels in the creek have to be
lowered to allow workers access - this is referred to as "dewatering".

The Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) monthly meeting list can be found here. For more information about NACS, contact Michele Bowman, Community Outreach Coordinator at 301-600-2091 or email mbowman@frederickmdpolice.org.

What
are Neighborhood Advisory Councils and what do they do? To find out
more information on Neighborhood Advisory Councils visit NACs.

Alert Frederick County

Emergency Notification System

Sign up for weather, traffic, and other important notices and updates at

Changes
are coming to Alert Frederick County! In the upcoming weeks, you will
receive a notification through Alert Frederick County as to the easy and
one time change you will need to make to continue receive
notifications.

Employment Opportunities

The City of Frederick values diversity in its workforce and is an equal opportunity employer. For information on employment with The City of Frederick, visit these links: